Kawabe 川辺町
Town
Kawabe Town Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Kawabe in Gifu Prefecture
Kawabe
Coordinates: 35°29′11.6″N 137°4′14.6″E / 35.486556°N 137.070722°E / 35.486556; 137.070722
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu
Prefecture	Gifu
District	Kamo
Government
• Mayor	Mitsuhiro Satō
Area
• Total	41.16 km2 (15.89 sq mi)
Population  (January 1, 2019)
• Total	10,303
• Density	250/km2 (650/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
City symbols
- Tree	Camellia sinensis
- Flower	Satsuki azalea
Phone number	0574-53-2511
Address	Nakakawabe 1518-4, Kawabe-chō, Kamo-gun, Gifu-ken 509-0393
Website	Official website (in Japanese)

Kawabe (川辺町, Kawabe-chō) is a town located in Kamo District, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 January 2019^[update], the town had an estimated population of 10,303 and a population density of 250 persons per km², in 3876 households.^[1] The total area of the town was 41.16 square kilometres (15.89 sq mi).

Geography

Kawabe is located on the edge of the Nōbi Plain in southern Gifu Prefecture. The Hida River flows through the town, which 70% forest and hills. The town has a climate characterized by characterized by hot and humid summers, and mild winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Kawabe is 15.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2058 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.6 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.1 °C.^[2]

Neighbouring municipalities

• Gifu Prefecture
  • Minokamo
  • Hichisō
  • Yaotsu

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,^[3] the population of Kawabe has remained relatively steady over the past 50 years.

History

The area around Kawabe was part of traditional Mino Province. During the Edo period, it part of Kamo District, and was tenryo directly controlled by the Tokugawa shogunate. During the post-Meiji restoration cadastral reforms, the area was organised into Kamo District, Gifu Prefecture. The town of Kawabe was formed on April 1, 1897 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system.^[4] Kawabe merged with neighbouring Kamiyoneda on April 1, 1955.

Education

Kawabe has three public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school.

Transportation

Railway

• Central Japan Railway Company - Takayama Main Line
  • Nakakawabe - Shimoasō

Highway

• National Route 41
• National Route 418

Local attractions

• Kawabe Dam